#tcb band⚡

[hooked-on-elvis]

How was Elvis in the 70s? ✨

Elvis' personal and work life, as told by a close friend and former lover. "Elvis and Kathy" by Kathy Westmoreland. Some of the questions I found answers to - or at least some enlightenment - were these ones: 'What Elvis went through on the road?'; 'How he dealt with his health issues?'; 'Was Elvis a depressed man?' And of course, we have more treasured stories on Elvis' tremendous generosity and funny antics.

On Kathy and my review on her book:

Kathy Westmoreland was Elvis' soprano background singer for his TCB band from August 1970 to August 1977, when sadly Elvis passed away. Kathy joined the TCB band during the time they were filming "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" at the International Hotel, during Elvis' 3th season there; precisely when they were finishing the last shooting for the documentary. Kathy lived a romance with Elvis right from the start she joined his band and it's very interesting to read her recollections on how things gradually - but quickly - escalated between being just a newcomer talent for the band to being one of the big boss' women. On this subject, Kathy included not only facts on how things happened between she and Elvis but her feelings and thoughts during each moment she shared with him. This is a very interesting reading, specially considering the circumstances this love affair was under (Elvis was still a married man). Kathy is raw honest on her side of this issue and why she decided to go on with their love affair. EP was her first man - if you catch my drift, so this entices our curiosity on their love affair story a lot more; it did mine, at least.

Throughout the book, you can feel how Kathy cherished being not only a co-worker, and in spite of being his lover for a certain amount of time, but having Elvis for a dear friend. He trusted her and she loved him truly deeply. On this book, Kathy defends Elvis wholeheartedly. You can feel the how angry she was with some of the crap people said about EP over the years (up until the time she published this book, of course), and she stood against it without lying about what she truly considered flaws on Elvis. Even so, even when she didn't agree with everything Elvis did, as you expect from any close true friend, she remained loyal and justified some of his choices, giving EP compassion and understanding rather than unfair judgment. She did some covering for him, in my opinion, specially about the medication abuse, but other than that she was very truthful and considerate and even dismissed some myths people created in a way of mocking Elvis, such as him not having a good hygiene during his last years of life, and so on. That's my favorite part of her book, really! I was like 'YEAH, YOU GO, GIRL!' 🩷

Now, you may feel that the book becomes tiresome when in some chapters Kathy talks about her personal experiences and feelings traveling with the TCB band instead of sharing only her moments with Elvis, but this was something to expect for considering she was not with him the entire time they worked together. These memories about the band on the road, their crazy schedules and hotel stays directly connect with how Elvis lived on the road and what he experienced himself, how draining it could be going from city to city nonstop, not having proper meals and a nice night sleep, so they are extremely valuable in every way. Be patient, the stories about EP are spread throughout the book, so pay attention to the details and read in between the lines.

Kathy is alive today, thanks God, and she still care deeply about EP. Reading her book was one of my best spent time, really. Kathy's book is one very dear to my heart. ♥

This is a rare book and, just like I found it only through some good soul out there sharing it, and I know it's not very easy to find this book, I want to share it with you too. I promise you will have a great time reading those pages.

Read "ELVIS AND KATHY" (1987), by Kathy Westmoreland

✨ PDF here ✨

Kathy Westmoreland, Oslo, Norway, 1983. Photos by Stein Ivar Holmo as published by him on Nov 07th, 2023 on 'Elvis in the 70's' Facebook group.

Some of Elvis' gifts to Kathy.